Programme to address reform in child and family services

Government Programme:In 2025, Finland is an inventive, caring and safe country where we all can feel important. Our society is based on trust.

Finland is safeFinland is inventiveFinland’s economy is sustainableFinland as part of Europe

The Government’s objective: Finland is on a path of sustainable growth

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Vision:Suomi 2025

– built up together

Employment and competitiv

eness

Knowledge and education

Wellbeing and health

Bioeconomy and clean solutions

Digitalisation, experim

entation and

deregulation Situational awareness

The Government’s key projects:Activities to a new level with a single input

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Input into all key projects totalling EUR 1 billion

EUR 130 million for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s key

projects on wellbeing and

health

Key projects of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

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Services to be based on client needs

Health and wellbeing will be fostered and inequalities reduced

Implementation of the Programme to address

child and family services

EUR 130

million

Home care for older people will be developed

and informal care enhanced in all age

groups

Career opportunities for people with

partial work ability

Enhanced health and wellbeing

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Why is there a need for more prevention and early support?

One in ten health and social services clients needs various services a great deal

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One in ten needs help often and for many types of problems. As their companion they require a professional who will ensure that they receive the help they need.

10% of clients 80–90%

of resources for health and social

services

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Costs of health and social services for children and young people(estimate from 2013)

EUR

3 billion per year

Services for people with disabilities approx. EUR 50 million

Specialised medical services EUR 1 000 million

Institutional and family services in child protection EUR 734 million

Basic healthcare EUR 511 million

Other social services for children and

families EUR 468 million

Oral healthcareEUR 225 million

Children and young people placed outside the home, in custody, and in emergency placement in 1991–2014

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Children and young people placed outside the home

of whom children taken into custody

of whom children needing emergency placement

Child protection measures in 2013

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64 500child protection

notifications concerning a child

4 200children in emergency placement

10 700children in custody

Source: National Institute for Health and Welfare

Children’s foster care costs have risen sharply

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Foster family

EUR 30 000/yearResidential family home

EUR 50 000/yearInstitutional care

EUR 90 000/year

year 2006 year 2010

EUR 430 million

EUR 620 million

Source: National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuusikkokuntien lastensuojelun työryhmä 2014

Early support for families pays

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This money can buy• Intensive family work for over

seven years• The family could receive family

counselling over 400 times• Almost 3 000 hours of home help

services could be organised

Costs of taking a child into custody

EUR 18 000–72 000per year

Average savings each time taking a child into custody is

preventedEUR 60 000

per year

Average savings fromavoiding institutional care

EUR 90 000 per year

This money can pay for two family work employees

The shift of emphasis to early support is the main objective of the Programme to address child and family services.Source: National Institute for Health and Welfare Vaikuttavuus ja kustannukset website pages

Pre-primary

education

Services face challenges in the management of encounters and in coordination

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Basic education

Psychologist and school social worker

Etc.

School

healthcare

Housing

Early

child

hood

educati

on

Services are scattered through many sectors and in many service points. Services have been organised mainly with an administrative and organisational orientation. Client data are dispersed into numerous documents and registers.

Specialised medical

servicesM

ater

nity

an

d ch

ild

heal

th c

linic

Child

upbringing

and family

counselling

Child

protection

Youth work Dispos-able

income

Etc.

Objectives of the Programme to address child and family services

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Rights of the child and the child’s best interests

Diversity of families

Strengthening of resources

Child and family orientation

Principles steering the reform

How are we bringing about this change?

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1. An operating culture strengthening children’s rights and a knowledge-based approach Models for assessing the impacts of decisions on children are designed and

applied. Tools for child-focused budgeting are devised. Tools are created for monitoring the health and wellbeing

of children and young people as well as for monitoring services.

The child-friendly municipality model is spread. The know-how and tools for professionals are revamped to support the reform. Models for network management of child and family policies and services

across administrative boundaries are designed and applied. National steering, legislation and management are revised to support the

reform focused on children, young people and families.

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2. Child and family-oriented services The starting point is the client’s individual service needs.

The child’s, adolescent’s and family’s overall situation is taken into account.

Bringing support into the child’s and adolescent’s growth environment and daily life is primary. Parents are supported in reconciling work and family life.

The focus of services is shifted from remedial services to preventive services common to all, and to early support and care.

Rehabilitation services for children and young people whose functioning calls for special support are realised in cooperation among the different actors.

One official or professional is responsible for the continuity of services and for the coordination of multi-sector cooperation.

Children, young people and families have a stronger role in planning and implementing their own services than previously.

Children’s, young people’s and families’ own agency is strengthened by supporting voluntary activity and the related preconditions.

People with disabilities should also have the opportunity to participate and receive services.

Results expected of the programme in decision-making and in the service system in 2019

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Municipalities, counties and State authorities have received tools for decision-making based on knowledge and children’s rights and for promoting the operating culture.

In each county and in the municipalities within its area, all services for children, young people and families have been coordinated into a child and family-oriented entity of services. The reform work has begun in the municipalities and counties.

National steering, legislation and management have been revised to support the reform focused on children, young people and families and carried out in cooperation among various ministries.

Timely access to services has improved once the focus of support has shifted from remedial services to preventive services common to all, and to early support and care. Cost savings have been achieved by shifting the focus.

The know-how of and tools for professionals working with children, young people and families have been revamped to support the reform.

The county and municipal level has well-functioning structures and agreement practices for cooperation with organisations and parishes. The support forms produced by these actors for children, young people and families are part of the service entity. It has been possible to respond cost-effectively to the wellbeing needs of children, young people and families within the framework of diminishing public appropriations.

Results in children’s wellbeing expected of the programme in 2025

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Parity among children, young people and families has increased, inequality has decreased, and people have learnt to take differences and diversity into consideration.

The resources and life management skills of children, young people and families have improved and their experiences of receiving help, being engaged and being encountered have strengthened.

Indicators

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The interaction between children/young people and their parents has improved. Loneliness among children/young people has decreased. Every child has have at least one secure and permanent adult relationship. Bullying in early childhood education and at school has decreased. Every child/young person has a hobby. Interruption of education has decreased (in both basic education and secondary

education). The attachment of children and young people to school has become stronger. The violence experienced by children has decreased. Parents’ intoxicant abuse and mental health problems, as well as the damage these cause

to children, have decreased. The harm caused to children by parents’ divorce has decreased. Children’s, young people’s and parents’ experience of inclusion in services (early

childhood education, school, child protection, healthcare and rehabilitation services, etc.) is improved.

The use of family-friendly approaches has increased at workplaces and the workload experienced by parents has decreased. 

The functionality of the service system as experienced by children, young people and families has improved. 

Demanding services Specialised services

Child and family services are reorganised

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Demanding specialised services in child protection

Demanding psychiatric services for children and young people

Services for people within the scope of criminal sanctions

Demanding services for immigrants and asylum seekers

Demanding services for intoxicant abusers

Family centre model- maternity and child health clinics, family work- early childhood education- digital service possibilities- jorganisations, parishes and peer support

services- support for parenting and the couple relationship- services for divorcing families

School as support for the wellbeing of children and young people- student welfare services:

- school and student healthcare- psychologists and school

social workers- peer student and tutor

schemes- The KiVa School antibullying

project

Child protection

Specialised medical services

Services for people with disabilities

Low-threshold services

Examples of

services

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Schedule andmonitoring

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Financing EUR 40 million.

Mainly as support for reform in municipalities

and counties

The development work is based on partnership and network management

An important starting point for the project is

partnership between the State, municipalities,

parishes, organisations and other private service providers.

Multi-sector services require network

management, service-ecosystem thinking and

service design know-how.

The entity is created for the operating environment of the municipalities and

counties of the future.

Digitalisation must be taken into

account in development work.

Schedule 2016–2019

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Starting seminar, January 2016 Publication of the project plan, April 2016 County visits, spring/summer 2016 Application for government grants, August–

September 2016 County reform programmes, 2017-2018 Ending of the key project, December 2018 Government policy outline for the new child

and family services model and its management at the end of the project period, in 2018/2019

www.stm.fi/hankkeet/lapsi-ja-perhepalvelut

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